Chapter 69: Mistral Dance (III).
Kein's POV
After the revelation that it was Lord Vincent who was dancing upon the stage, I took my sketch and kept it safe for now. I also bent down to take the dropped pencil and into my [Storage Ring] it went.
Natasha being the good person that she was, decided to talk more with the princess and so I was left with my thoughts.
"I wonder why he didn't tell me..."
I thought being one of Lord Vincent's closest friends- he would at least tell me about his performance tonight. I still haven't heard about any updates with his family- with General Wolford and Duchess Viviana.
I thought for the worst, and I really did hope with Princess Cecilia's influence she would be able to patch their relationship to what it once was before.
The priest settles down his staff and bowed down just in time for the music, it slowly stops into a melodic tune before the crowd claps in admiration for the wonderful performance.
We could see Lord Vincent's figure bowing looking over hundreds of people who watched his show, all satisfied smiles.
"Wonderful!"
"Spectacular! One of the best dances I've seen these years!"
"Pretty lady, come on dance again!" An audience member from the church whistled echoing across the room.
At that one comment by the crowd we saw Lord Vincent's figure relax a little before retreating into the blinds of the stage.
His expression looked so happy just before he left, whoever said that possibly made his day. I chuckled a little and couldn't help myself from doing so.
"So the dance is over now?" I turned to the two girls who nodded in reply.
Everyone else from the crowd was also going through the exits.
"It seems so, something was different with today's festival. It was a bit fast but everyone seems to have received their blessing and so should us." (Rose)
"I would want to visit Lord Vincent and see how he's doing but from the looks of the crowd and church personnel I don't think they'll be letting me in there." I told Rose, deep inside I really wanted to speak with Vincent but if he didn't want to tell us about his dancing performance we won't bring it up unless he'll do it first.
Natasha clears her throat looking over to us both. "Natasha will go now since the dance is over, the two of you are safe for the next activities you will do at night, very dangerous."
She tries to speak properly in her best Puronian accent but she fails a little. "The princess and Kein, Natasha... Will see you both another time. She has already started to give up, the more that Natasha sees the both of you together."
"The more that Natasha sees the two of you she realizes she's being a fool."
Oh... Natasha's words made me feel guilty but- it's not like I have a choice.
Chasing me who's already committed to the princess will just waste her time and hurt her feelings... and I've already rejected her strongly, not even risking her hope for something.
Because I know that'll also be a waste of her time.
I could only lower my head and offer my sincerest apology.
"Natasha… I'm really sorry." My voice came out really weak but I could feel her hand holding my shoulder before I looked up seeing her shake her head at me.
"No need to apologize, I understand." (Natasha) reassures me with a faint sad smile and I feel a little better after that. "Natasha wanted to try and at the very least I did confess."
Her next move surprises me however because she pulls me in to whisper something in my ear. "However… Natasha hopes you consider what Natasha has told you before at the bar, in terms of being honest with the crown princess. I hope you have done or will do it once you are ready."
The bar?
My memory wandered off to that time.
…
"Natasha knows but if you love the princess. You should come clean, have you told her that even though you have not rejected some other girls but just kept them hanging because you don't want to hurt their feelings?"
"The princess is waiting for us. Tell her everything when you're ready, tell her everything that she needs to know."
…
To tell her everything… I have told her almost everything but she's right. I whispered back to Natasha. "I'll come clean tonight. I'm ready. I'm resolved to tell her everything there is."
I'm really ready to tell her everything.
From the start, before I leave and talk with the other heroes to venture off to my separate mission.
This is one of the few rare times we'll be alone and who knows when I'll have another chance like this, today must be the day.
"Hey are the both of you talking behind the crown princess' back? Natasha and Kein, would you like to share whatever your findings are?" (Rose) was respecting our privacy while we talked a bit before and I scratched the back of my head looking at her pouty expression.
Natasha leaves my side and faces the crown princess. The Winshern girl was taller than Rose so she had to look down a little, her gaze full of respect towards Rose.
"Kein loves you, Rose. Please take care of her, not only that she's been a good friend. She is not that much of a bad person or a player from what Natasha has seen."
My heart did a little happy dance knowing someone other than Rose thinks I'm nothing like that!
Thank you! Jeez!
It seems I wasn't the only one happy hearing that.
"Hehe!" (Rose) giggles under her shawl and she holds the scary Natasha into a quick hug before quickly letting the girl go. "Natasha, I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it too."
Natasha was stiff as a stick, she was standing in her place looking so pale and confused. "Erm… Natasha doesn't understand Puronian people. Aren't you not supposed to hug- people who like your lover?" she asked me pointing at my happy Rose having no worry at someone like Natasha now.
I shrugged as the other girl had to stop and think.
"Well- you're not a bad person, Natasha. So I felt like hugging you."
"Natasha- is well…"
The girl actually became speechless, the tip of her ears becoming red from the sudden compliment.
I think she was still not used to compliments, especially someone from a higher ranking of royalty. Imagine if the crown princess told you that you weren't a bad person and that was the only reason why she hugged you.
"Thank you, your highness."
Rose holds her hand gently, shaking it up and down before telling Natasha, "Please, anyone who I consider a friend can call me Rose. Calling me your highness in my commoner clothing is rather weird."
"Yes… er… Rose. Thank you, Natasha is grateful for your kind words."
"Mm! Mm! Call me Rose from now on!"
The two of them talked for another ten more minutes before Natasha went ahead and told us that she needed to go to the restroom and she'll go home right after.
"Well then Rose and Kein, have safe travels when you get home." (Natasha) bowed her head a little at us and we did the same.
Rose waves her hand energetically. Natasha waves her hands at us before leaving and I feel my eyes getting teary when I watch those two talk with one another.
"Sniff… sniff…"
I'm so happy that these two are becoming close friends. I dreaded for a possible outcome where one of them would propose a fight, whoever will win will give me the 'prize'.
Urgh… I really don't want that to happen, then again that seems rather childish and these two are mature enough to talk about it.
"Oh! Hello, excuse me!"
"???"
It seems like a couple of church girls with brooms in hand seemed like they were going to clean the area. "The church is closing soon- the Mistral dance is over and almost everyone is going home so the church girls will be cleaning this area."
"Please be careful when going home- the night market is still very much alive though so please go there instead!"
Rose frantically realized that we were probably standing on a spot that she needed to clean on. "Ah apologies! We'll be out of your hair. Kein, come on- let's go outside the church." She holds my hand tightly dragging me away from where we were.
"Alright, alright."
The guards who was outside guarding the church, my upperclassmen noticed us leaving so they waved their goodbyes too but some asshat decided to embarrass me by the last minute-
"Use protection!"
"Don't forget!"
"Remember to be safe or else babies will pop out!"
I feel like a nerve will pop out of my forehead, out of a little anger I grabbed a small pillow that I used for camping in the winshern escort mission and threw it in their direction. Landing a direct hit on one of my upperclassman's faces.
"Urgh! A pillow!"
"You're lucky it's not a rock you bozos!" I grit my teeth wanting to come over there and give them a proper beating but I can't leave Rose on her own-
Ah… Ahhh-
Rose's face was beet red and I was also beet red because- well!
Those guys were so shameless.
I cursed in my mind, if they knew that this was actually the princess- they would have their heads rolling for having to say such things!
"E-Erm… Kein…" (Rose) called out to me and I took a deep breath before answering. "Y-Yeah?"
"Don't they know we can't exactly reproduce-"
"Oh they definitely fucking know we can't."
I explained to Rose that it was just another mild teasing from my upperclassmen and she decided to go with the flow.
"Ignore it, Rose it's- erm nothing we should be thinking about right now but- I mean…" My words were getting tongue tied. How should I do this…?
I want to come clean, I want to tell her everything before I leave.
"Y-Yes?"
"I have to tell you something important." I swallowed the lump forming in my throat, knowing that there's no going back.
I'll tell her I'm not really Kein.
"Something I've never told anyone before. Will you trust me?"
I'll tell her I'm someone else living in another person's body.